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Monday 2 July 2012

Role Reversal

Back in May one of my Year 11 boys asked me if I would drive a group of them to the Prom in the school minibus.  I was really amused by the idea that they wanted to be so 'anti-establishment' so I agreed to help out.  I decided to surprise them on the evening by dressing as a Year 11 Prefect (a special tie and badges).  I also amused myself by wearing my uniform as incorrectly as possible (shirt tales out, buttons undone and blazer sleeves rolled up).  As it got closer to the time I wondered if I'd really done the sensible thing.  I started to panic that wearing school uniform was a step too far and that the senior teachers would have a sense of humour bypass...  I needn't have worried.  The evening went really well and the senior teachers were just amused by my uniform prank.

Here I am with some of the boys by the minibus.  I. - the tall lad, second from right - had the original idea of going to the Prom in an old LDV!  All of these boys have studied Btec Music with me over the last three years.  They are great characters and I miss them...

The whole group on I.'s drive.  They look really self-conscious in their brand new suits!  A couple decided to go for the fancy dress option...


Here we are outside the Botanical Gardens in central Birmingham.  My school has used this venue for a few years and it seems to work really well.


Here I am with another of my lovely Music students - A.  Normally she is quite a 'tomboy' but this evening she looks beautiful and glamorous.


Here are a couple more of my Music girls.  The girl on the right was also in my form.  She is a lovely, kind-hearted chatter-box and form time is really quiet without her....


The boys gave me a bunch of flowers and some wine to say 'thank you'.  The roses are gorgeous -  they are clearly a special breed that will stay in this 'just open' state for several days.  Mark and I enjoyed the wine when we finally got home on Saturday night.


The whole evening was great fun.  The pupils were amazed that I could find my old Prefect, Duty Senior and 'Service to the School' badges (from the 1980s) to wear on the blazer.  I don't think they realise quite what a 'magpie' I am!

14 comments:

  1. What a fun evening - love the idea of the minibus! Nearly end of term.....

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  2. What a wonderful way to end the school term. The boys asking you to participate says a lot about you and their feelings for you. I love your fashion statement. How lucky they were to have a teacher with a wonderful sense of humor. Bonnie

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  3. What a great teacher you are- such a sense of fun. It was KL's prom last year. We went up to the hotel to watch everyone arrive. It was great fun - the students arrived on mobility scooters and hobby horses, in limousines, vintage cars,a fire engine, an army truck, and a party bus and one drove a tractor through the grounds of the hotel( he wasn't old enough to drive it on the road). It was a really joyous occasion on a beautiful sunny evening.

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  4. Brilliant Jan I love it and it looks like everyone had a wonderful time. I did my PGCE at Edgbaston, so just near the botanical gardens xx

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  5. Fantastic, don't they all look wonderful. There's always one who lets the side down though with shirt tails hanging out and sleeves rolled up!

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  6. Looks like great fun! You must be sad and yet proud too to see your students moving on. The Botanical Gardens is a lovely venue:)

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  7. Brilliant Jan! You look a really cool teacher to me, we never had teachers like you!!!(well I am going back a fair number of years!). How lovely the boys appreciated everything you did for them and what lovely flowers too.

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  8. What fun. Glad you had a great evening. I do appreciate your sense of fun! I went to th Botaniic garden 12 years ago and loved it. What good memories you've made for so many....including yourself! Joan

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  9. Glad everyone had fun - end of school parties weren't like that in my day.

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  10. What a good sport you are, Jan...looks like everyone had a memorable evening!

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  11. That took a lot of nerve! Well done! I couldn't still fit in my school uniform so..even more well done! It ounds as if you had a lovely time and shows how much your students value you and who you are...that must be great. Joan

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  12. Jan you look great and could easily pass for a pupil! It looks like you all had a lovely time. It must be hard to have to say goodbye to them all when you've watched them grow up into fine adults xxx

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  13. Thanks for all your lovely wishes x looks like you have lots of fun!

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  14. You're a cool teacher, Jan. Being humorous is the best way to get into the hearts of people around you. And that's why your students love you so much that they asked you to drive them to their very special day as high school students. Your pupils all looked great in these suits, by the way.

    Bhavik Popat @Exclusive Men's Wear

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